loading the 500 S&W

[Steve Koski]

Jibbs,

I owned both for about a year. Best I could tell shooting identical loads side by side was that the 4" was much louder, but you lost 200-300 FPS in velocity, and the recoil seemed slightly less to me.

1600 FPS to 1300 FPS is a decrease of 19%.
72.5 oz to 56 oz is a decrease of 23%.

So by straight momentum numbers, it would seem that the 4" would have more felt recoil. But that's not what I recall. The compensators weren't identical. Who knows.

Take care,

Koski

 

[jibbs]

Steve,

Didn't want to come across confrontational. Give someone 2 different guns and you'll get 2 different answers. My 8" is the newer style comp (like the 4"), id be willing to bet the one you had was the original, which I heard had more felt recoil than the interchangeable versions.

To kind of steer us back on track with 500 loadings, stick with Win 296/H110 for full horse loads. On paper, Lil Gun reports to produce more fps with less pressure than either of those 2. I think that Lil Gun also produces noticeably more felt recoil and penetrates more, but that is just me doing unscientific testing and should taken with a grain of salt.

I have been sitting on a pound of 300-MP that I wanted to give a try and see how it does compared to Lil Gun. Again, on paper it looks good but I don't know anyone who has tried it. My crony is suffering from some kind of terminal ballistic problem so all I will be able to go on is group size and felt recoil (which is all really care about anyways). Anyone mess with this stuff in the S&W 500? This would be a good time to step in as it does pertain to the OP's original question.

I load up the full horse loads for the friends to say they shot the big one and it lived up to their expectations. Even though the true be told that you can down load it to be as meek as a 9mm if not even softer. But don't tell anyone that.

Enjoy your holiday weekend everyone and be safe.

 

[Steve Koski]

Correct. My full size 500 has the non-interchangeable compensator. My 4" had the "newer style."

Koski

 

[lead slinger]

Oico
i guess i am just glutton for punishment

well i got got my cash to pay off my layaway so at 10 am i will have a smile from ear to ear

i went with the h110 for this fisrt pound next i will try the lil gun

 

[bluetopper]

Out of my Handi-Rifle I push a 350gr gas check bullet to 2170fps using
AA4100 powder, which I'm almost certain is the same powder as Ramshot Enforcer. No magnum primer needed. Utter destruction on anything it hits.
I'm starting to use IMR4227 powder too but haven't had a chance to chrono it yet. I've found out though the recoil isn't as harsh.

 

[jibbs]

You'll be fine with the 4". I always laughed when I shot it because it felt like I was at a camp fire because of how much powder it ends up throwing out of the end of it. I will say that you will most certainly feel your face warm up after every shot.

Something I forgot to mention. Roll crimp the you know what out of it. H110 needs a firm crimp to hold it in place for proper ignition. I learned that the hard way when using a soft crimp on my 357's. Rounds went off like popcorn as opposed to a magnum. Not to mention that the heavy recoil for the 500 will try and jar your crimps free anyways. I crimp mine probably too much, anymore and my case would buckle (that was my test for how much to give it). But I am happy with my results.

 

[lead slinger]

I didnt crimp that hard. I am using the rcbs profile crimp. I was thinking just loading one at a time just for right now so I don't bump fire this and put a hole in the ceiling at the range

 

[Sunray]

Magnum primers have nothing to do with the cartridge. They're about the powder used.

 

[Steve Koski]

The flash from the 4" is impressive with H110 or similar powders. You can see it in the noonday sun, even as the shooter.

 

[FROGO207]

If all one is looking for is flash just get a 30 carbine Ruger and load it using H 110. That'll git ya your fix with lower recoil. Now heavy recoil with the 500 is all about the 700 grainers IMHO. I just got some lil gun and will be loading up some to try asap in my Handi Rifle.

 

[Strongbad]

Late to the party but I thought I'd throw out my experience. I've got a 1st gen x-Frame from the first year of production. I have run 300 gr. FTX's, 350 gr. XTP's, 350 gr. Sierra's, 385 gr. Remingtons and 400 gr. JFP Sierras. Probably about 1000 rounds since I got it. Not a lot to say other than mine reloads very easy. I don't size the cases all the way down, only about 2/3-3/4 of the way. The rest of the way just isn't necessary. Depending on the bullets, I don't always flare the mouth. Because most of the jacketed bullets I run have nice rounded edges on the base they run right into the case without having to do the flaring operation. I put a firm crimp on them and I crimp in a separate operation from seating. I recommend this method.

I've run H-110, Lilgun, H-4227, and AA9 through mine. Lilgun and AA9 are the ones I've used the most of. AA9 has been very accurate but does not run nearly as fast as Lilgun. Lilgun gives me both accuracy and top velocity but it's also given me some pressure problems here and there and I never had any problems with pressure with any loads using AA9, it just wont do that. That said, if you're not pushing it to the max, Lilgun should be fine. I was never impressed with H-110 in the 500. It's dirty as hell and didn't perform as well as the other powders.

As for primers, I've run CCI's, Remington 9.5's, and Winchester LR's. My mainspring is a little bit on the puny side so I had some trouble with misfires with the harder primers. With a little help from a friend at Sierra Bullets I finally settled on the Rem 9 1/2's. They've pretty much resolved the problem... pretty much. The one callout I have is that I was specifically told to avoid Federal primers because they tend to be the softest around, and in a big heavy recoiling rig like the 500 you want to make sure you don't end up with a chainfire situation due to recoil. I think the likelihood of such an occurence is probably nil, but still. Best to play it safe when you can.

Again, late to the party but I hope the info helps. <shrug>

 

[bigedp51]

Pack the cylinders full of Kingsford Mesquite and lite it off. (chock both wheels if your using heavy loads)

 

[lead slinger]

Ok well yesterday was great the gun shot flawless as did my reloads I shot 70 rounds between me and my two others friends. 43g of h110 is a great. I know someone pointed me to berrys I think I will be putting a order in there real soon. I am also going to look into some heavier bullets also. I love this gun. Thanks for the help guys

 

[thebonegrinders]

lead slinger try some 400 gr Barnes Busters if you get a chance..I load with 36gr h110. Loaded and fired 50 of them and then reloaded them back up because i loved um.. My revolver is a 10.5 performance 500..